LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS' HONORARIUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2784, 24 July 1907, Page 53

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS' HONORARIUM.

MOTION FOR INCREASE REJECTED* (Fboic Ora Own Cobebsponbent.) July 17. The Hob. H. Scotland moved in th« Legislative Council to-day that in ~sK# opinion of this Council its members ought to receive the same amount as the members of the other Chamber. He said when he first entered the Council the honorarium was the same as that of the Lower House, and they were at times taunted in thjf lobbies by members of another place, who said "If you don't pass 6uch and such «T government measure there will be - no; honorarium for you this year"— (Laughter.) A living wage should be allowed to meek the heavy expenses that were thrust upon them. In the case of' a member bringing his wife and, say, two daughters to Wellington for the session, the expense of dress alone would be nearly £100. The dress ticketed up " Our sale price 15s 6d or 15s " might do for Letmbtpn quay, but it .wouldi not do for the ball 'at Government House. New Zealand was, he believed, the onlz self-governing colony where the Upper House members received Jeas than, the mem a bprs.bf the Lower House. In all probability this would be bis last session, for ha supposed that next year, whether he were alive or not, his dace there would know; him no more. He therefore desired before he departed to endeavour to put an end to* what he considered to be an injustice. The Hon. O. Samuel, while appreciating the motives that had actuated, the proposal, re* gretted that the resolution had been' pub forward. The members of the Lower, House had the expenses of their elections to meet, and were subjected to supervision* from their constituents, which made their, duties very much more onerous than those of the Upper House. It was a very delicate matter for members to be called on to gefc ! up and estimate the value of their services, and he would, therefore move the previous question. This proposal was put *to thei vote, and the movement for an increase o' honorarium was thrown out on the voices.